Shock-absorbent shoe heels



Feb. 4, 1958 M. KORNBERG 2,821,793

SHOCK-ABSORBENT SHOE HEELS Filed Nov. 26, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MAURICE KURNBERG 1f 4 H W TTRNEY Feb. 4, 1958 M. KORNBERG sHocx-ABsoRBENT SHOE HEELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -Filed Nov. 26,' 195s KURNBERE IN VEN TOR.

MBURICE nsw United States Patent4 O SHOCK-ABSORBENT SHOE HEELS Maurice Komberg, New York, N. Y.

Application November 26, 1956, Serial No. 624,361

1 Claim. (Cl. '3S-37) This invention is a shock-absorbent shoe heel, particularly but not necessarily for ladies shoes.

Among important objects of the invention are the following:

To provide a generally improved cushioning device for shoe heels;

To adapt the device particularly for use in the heels of ladies shoes, with the device having a relatively small cross-sectional area so as to be mountable in so-called French or spike heels;

To incorporate the device in shoes with minimum modification and redesign of the shoes, and with no outward change in their appearance;

To provide, in one form of the invention, means for adjusting the tension of the shock-absorbing spring;

To permit the complete removal of the device in instances in which it may not be desired to use the same;

To provide, in one form of the invention, means for causing the line along which the shock is absorbed to travel a curved path, again to particularly adapt the device for use in ladies shoes having spike heels; and

To permit manufacture of the device at low cost, permit its installation in a shoe at times other than during the manufacture of the shoe, and provide a shock-absorbent means that will be comfortable to the wearer.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings,

4 and to the appended claims "in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a view of a ladys shoe in which the shoe has been illustrated fragmentarily, the shoe being shown partly in longitudinal section with the device constituting the present invention also being in longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, detail section substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 3 showing a modified construction.

Fig. 5 is a view of a second modified form of the device per se, partly in section and partly in elevation.

Fig. 6 is a view like Fig. 1 showing another modilication.

Fig. 7 is a view like Fig. 2 showing still another modication, a portion of the heel plate being broken away.

Fig. 8 is a view like Fig. 1, substantially on line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a similar View to Fig. 8 but showing a still further modification of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view substantially on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. l3 the shoe has been generally designated at 10, `and includes the usual upper 12, sole 14, spike heel 16, reinforcing bar 18, and sole lining 20.

The shockabsorbent device 22 constituting the invention includes a heel plate 24 underlying the heel portion of sole lining 20 and shaped to underlie the heel of the foot when the shoe is worn. Heel plate 24 is integral or otherwise made rigid on its underside with a rounded, depending projection or lug 26, receiving the upper end of a compression, coil spring 28, the line of force of which is extended normally to the plane of the heel plate 24.

Referring to Fig. 1, in a shoe of the type described the heel portion of sole 14 is inclined from the horizontal, and plate 24 is accordingly correspondingly inclined, being normally spaced a short distance above the sole, as best shown in Fig. 1.

Therefore, the length of the spring is inclined from the vertical, in the illustrated embodiment, with the spring seating in a cup-shaped holder 30 fixedly engaged in a recess 32 formed in the upper portion of heel 16.

When the shoe is worn, on each step a downward pressure is normally exerted upon the heel plate by the heel of the foot, and the spring 28 compresses, absorbing the shock which normally is transmitted directly from the heel of the foot to the lower end of the shoe heel 16. The spring thus alternately compresses and expands, continually absorbing the shocks incurred during walking, so that the shoe may be worn for a long period of time without incurring fatigue so far as the wearer is concerned.

In Fig. 4 a modification is shown, in which the components are arranged similarly to those of Fig. l, the only diference being that the heel 16a has a recess 32a of oval or elliptical cross section, as distinguished from the circular cross section in the lirst form of the invention. The cup-shaped spring retainer or holder 30B' is accordingly also of elliptical cross section, with the convolutions of the spring 28a being oval rather than annular. The arrangement permits the device to be iu- -corporated in heels of ladies shoes, which heels are often very narrow, so that a maximum amount of shock absorption is permitted, despite the relatively narrow crosssectional shape of the shoe heel.

In Fig'. 5 another modification is shown in which a compression, coil spring 28h is welded at its upper end to the underside of heel plate 24, and seats in a retainer sleeve 30h which is formed open at its opposite ends, as distinguished from the first form in which the retainer has a bottom end wall. In this case the lower end of the spring abuts directly against the bottom of the recess 32, with the retainer sleeve fxedly engaged in the recess.

In Fig. 6 another modification is shown, in which the heel plate 24 is welded to the upper end of a guide sleeve 30c in the lower end of which is slidably engaged a solidly formed, cylindrical plunger 34u, the spring 28 being held under lcompression between heel plate 24 and plunger 34C, with the plunger seating against the bottom of recess 32.

In Figs. 7 and 8 another modiiication is shown. The elongated reinforcing bar 18d is embedded in a complementary recess of the sole 14d, and is formed with a circular, flat enlargement or head 36d fixedly secured to the shoe sole by angularly spaced rivets or equivalent fastening elements 38d.

A center opening is formed in the enlargement 36d, in registration with a recess 32d formed in the shoe heel 16d. Sliding in the recess and opening is a retaining sleeve 30d integrally formed at its upper end with an outwardly directed flange 40d welded or otherwise tixedly secured to heel plate 24. A compression, coil spring 28d abuts at one end against the heel plate, and extends within the conventional reinforcing bar 18d is adapted vat one end to serve as a guide for the slidable retaining sleeve of the shock absorbing device.

In Figs. 9 and 10, another modification is shown, wherein the plate 24 is welded or otherwise xedly secured to an elongated, longitudinally curved plunger 30e of rectan gular or other noncircular cross section, sliding in an elongated, open-ended tube 32e curved longitudinally at its upper end so that the plunger will slide in an arcuate path therein. The lower end portion of the tube 32e is straight, and extends vertically within the lower portion of the shoe heel 16e. The tube is mounted within an elongated recess 252e formed in the shoe heel 16e, and within the lower end of the tube ythere is slidably mounted a floating abutment 42e also of rectangular cross section. Spring 28c is compressed between abutment 42e and the plunger 30e, and biases the plunger upwardly, to normally space the heel plate 24 outwardly from the shoe sole 14e.

In the lower end of the heel 16e there is formed a vertical, threaded bore 46e communicating with the lower end of recess 32e. Threaded in the bore is a spring tension adjusting screw 44e, accessible through an opening 50E formed in the lift 48e of the shoe heel. Screw 44e bears at its inner end against the abutment 42e, and it will be seen that threading of the screw upwardly in Fig. 8 'will adjust the abutment upwardly, to place the spring under increased compression. Correspondingly, the compression Y of the spring may be decreased by threading the screw downwardly within the bore 46e.

This construction has the advantage that although the heel plate 24 is positioned at an incline, as would be the case when the invention is embodied in ladies shoes having spike heels, the line of force along which the shock is transmitted, and within which the shock is absorbed by spring 28e, is curved so that at one end it is aligned with the generally vertical lower end portion of the shoe heel, while at its other end it is inclined to travel in a s path perpendicular to the plane of the inclined heel plate 24.

In all embodiments of the invention, there is the common desirable characteristic wherein the device is particularly adapted for incorporation in ladies shoes, and operates efficiently within heels of small cross-sectional area, such as those shown. Further, the device can be incorporated in aV shoe by a shoe repairman, rather than being necessarily incorporated in the shoe at the time of manufacture thereof. Still further, the device can be removed at any time, if it is desired not to use the same on a particular occasion. It is merely necessary to lift CII the sole lining 20, to expose the heel plate. Thereafter, the heel plate can be lifted out, together with any parts connected thereto, permitting use of the shoe without the shock absorbent means constituting the invention.

Still further, in certain forms of the invention particularly desirable features are incorporated. For example, in the form of Fig. 4 the device is adapted to be used in a very narrow heel, while still having maximum shockabsorbing qualities. In the form of Fig. 9, the heel plate is held against rotatable movement, by the noncircular cross section of the plunger and guide tube. Further, in the form of Fig. 9 the spring can be swiftly and easily adjusted as to the tension thereof, from the lower end of the shoe heel. In all forms, the device is fully concealed lfrom view, when the shoe is worn, and does not detract in any way from the attractive appearance of the shoe.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that l do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A shock-absorbent shoe heel including a supportingsurface-engaging body, a heel plate overlying and normally spaced upwardly from said body, said body having an upwardly opening recess, and resilient, yielding means within said recess tensioned to yieldably oppose movement of the plate toward the body, comprising a coil spring, the heel including a tubular member xedly secured to the underside of the heel plate and receiving the spring, said heel further including a solid, cylindrical plunger' seating in the recess and telescoping within the tubular member, the spring bearing against said plunger and heel plate, said shoe heel including means apertured to receive the tubular member, the tubular member sliding in the aperture of said means, said means comprising a reinforcing bar projecting forwardly from the heel plate to reinforce the sole of a shoe to which the heel is secured, the tubular member being flanged above the reinforcing bar and being fixedly secured to the heel plate at the flanged` end thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 683,054 Lederer Sept. 24, 1901 1,717,122 Scholl` June ll, 1929 1,746,069 Butzen Feb. 4, 1930 

